Retaining device for electronic circuit component cards

ABSTRACT

A retaining device for stationarily positioning at least one electronic circuit component card comprising a bracket and a fastener. In one exemplary embodiment, a single fastener is manipulated from outside a wall of a chassis to hold two or more electronic circuit component cards in position. It is noted that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to ascertain quickly the subject matter of the technical disclosure. The abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to computing or processing devicesusing at least one electronic circuit component card and, moreparticularly, to retaining devices for stationarily positioning suchcards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A variety of state-of-the-art computers, processors, and similardevices use electronic circuit component cards, which are also referredto as electronic cards or card devices. Examples of such electroniccircuit component cards include, for example, peripheral componentinterconnect (“PCI”) cards. The industry has developed PCI and the otherso-called local bus technologies to provide expansion capabilities tocomputer systems.

[0003] These electronic circuit component cards typically have card edgeconnectors for mating with the slot connectors on motherboards orbackplanes. The card edge connectors and the slot connectors have acorresponding number of relatively closely spaced metal contacts inregistry with each other. When the card edge connector is inserted in aslot connector, the corresponding contacts make electrical connection.Through these contacts and their electrical connection, the card deviceand the motherboard communicate electronically. PCI and similarelectronic cards generally derive power from the motherboard orbackplane through the card slot into which they are received or plugged.

[0004] For a more secure and stable connection, the front edges of therespective cards typically have metal brackets for mounting to a wall orother surface using a bracket and a conventional retainer, such as ascrew or a rivet. The brackets and retainers collectively hold the cardsstationary relative to the wall, which is particularly important in anenvironment subject to shock and vibration.

[0005] Considering the overall systems, a trend exists in their designsfor redundancy and consistency to include duplicative or multiplecomponents, such as multiple power supplies and fans. The redundancyhelps to protect against productivity and economic losses associatedwith system downtime, which is particularly important in computing orprocessing devices used to perform critical business functions. In adesign using redundant parts, one skilled in the art will appreciatethat if one component malfunctions or fails, the system may stillcontinue to operate. In addition, it is possible that a technician maybe able to replace a defective component using “hot swapping” or “hotplugging” devices without either shutting down or crashing the system.This allows what is sometimes referred to as “concurrent maintenance.”

[0006] Current designs of rack-mount servers, however, normally usesystems that retain only one card at a time. The primary reason isspatial or volumetric constraints that exist within a chassis. In fact,because of the limited space or volume within the chassis, the singlecard is usually required to be oriented horizontally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a system that uses a plurality ofelectronic circuit component cards with a single motherboard orbackplane. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention comprisesa card receiving system and apparatus for retaining the edges of atleast two electronic circuit component cards. In this design, thepresent invention positions two cards horizontally so that one card isdisposed above or over the other card and those two cards are orientedsubstantially parallel to each other.

[0008] The present invention also comprises a system in which theelectronic circuit component cards may be collectively held stationarilyin place relative to each other using a single positioning or retainingsystem.

[0009] These and other features of the card receiving system andretaining system will become more apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings thatshow, for purposes of illustration only, an exemplary embodiment inaccordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded side view partially in schematic of anexemplary embodiment showing the components of the dual-card retainingdevice.

[0011]FIG. 1A is an alternative side view of FIG. 1 in which the riserconnector and riser are integrally formed as a single unit.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dual-card retaining device ofFIG. 1 positioned within a chassis.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of aretaining device of the present invention used to hold two cards of thedual-card retaining device.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the retaining device shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] The present invention is more particularly described in thefollowing examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerousmodifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilledin the art. As used in the specification and in the claims, “a,” “an,”or “the” can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it isused. The preferred embodiment is now described with reference to thefigures, in which like numbers indicate like parts throughout thefigures.

[0016] Referring generally to FIGS. 1-4, the present invention comprisesa receiving system 10 for holding and electronically communicating withat least two circuit component cards 40, 42. The drawings illustrate anexemplary embodiment that is a dual-card receiving device 10. Anotheraspect of the present invention includes a system that secures the cards40, 42 in position to prevent their inadvertent removal in response to aphysical shock or vibration. This securing system 50 comprises a singlebracket 60 and fastener 70 to retain multiple cards.

[0017] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, a dual-cardreceiving device 10 is shown being used with a motherboard 30 or abackplane. The motherboard 30 has an upper surface 32, a lower surface34, and an edge 36 circumscribing at least a portion of the motherboard30. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the motherboard 30 is substantiallyhorizontally disposed in a chassis C.

[0018] The dual-card receiving device 10 is designed to receive twocards, a first card 40 and a second card 42. The first and second cards40, 42 each have card edge connectors 44 for mating with respective slotconnectors to create an electrical connection therebetween that allowsthe card to communicate electronically with the device or component towhich it is connected.

[0019] Initially addressing the connection of the first card 40, astraddle connector 20 is shown attached to a portion of the edge 36 ofthe horizontally-disposed motherboard 30. An example of a straddleconnector 20 is an edge card connector (“ECC”) sold by AMCO TEC INTL.,INC. having part designation number 331-184TBSNS1. As one skilled in theart will appreciate, the straddle connector 20 is typically used with apersonal computer and is usually disposed upright or substantiallyvertically, whereas the straddle connector 20 in the exemplaryembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is disposed substantiallyhorizontally. As such, the straddle connector 20 receives the first card40 within its slot connector 22 when that first card 40 is horizontal.

[0020] One skilled in the art will also appreciate that although thestraddle connector 20 is shown attached to a portion of the edge 36 ofthe motherboard 30, it may also be mounted on or proximate to either theupper surface 32 or lower surface 34 of the motherboard 30 near its edge36. The straddle connector 20 may be connected or attached to themotherboard 30 (or to an adjacent structure such as a chassis C) usingany means known in the art, such as chemical adhesives, fusing,mechanical fasteners, or other bonding techniques.

[0021] Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated dual-cardreceiving device 10 also includes a riser connector 24 and a riser 26.The riser connector 24 is attached to the upper surface 32 of themotherboard 30, is located proximate the straddle connector 20, and isdisposed upright. An example of a riser connector 24 is sold by AMPhaving part designation number 5-179009-9. The riser connector 24 istypically mounted or attached to the upper surface 32 of the motherboard30 using a bracket (not shown) interconnecting both the riser connector24 on one end and a mechanical fastener (not shown) on the opposed end.The mechanical fastener, such as a screw, may be connected to themotherboard 30 or the bottom of the metal casing of the underlyingchassis C or rack. As one skilled in the art will further appreciate,instead of using a fastener, the riser connector 24 may be alternativelyconnected to the motherboard 30 or chassis C using other means known inthe art, such as chemical adhesives, fusing, or other bondingtechniques.

[0022] The riser 26 is coupled to the riser connector 24 so that the twocomponents electronically communicate with the second card 42 (whenreceived by the riser 26), the motherboard 30, and each other. Anexample of a riser 26 is sold by AMP having part designation number179029-9.

[0023] When necessary, mechanical or chemical means may be used tobuttress the physical coupling between the riser 26 and the riserconnector 24 to ensure that the components are not separated as a resultof vibrations or shock. Referring now to FIG. 1A, it is alsocontemplated that the riser connector 24 and the riser 26 may beintegrally formed together so that these two components are a singledevice or structure, e.g., no separate riser connector would be usedwith the riser and that riser would be connected directly to themotherboard.

[0024] As will be noted, the illustrated riser 26 has a slot connector28 that is horizontally oriented so that it receives the card edgeconnector 44 of the second card 42 when that second card is orientedsubstantially horizontally. As such, when the first and second cards 40,42 are received within the respective slot connectors 22, 28 of thestraddle connector 20 and riser 26, the second card 42 is disposed overor above and substantially parallel to the first card 40. In oneembodiment, a standard PCI card spacing of 0.8 inches is maintainedbetween the first and second cards 40, 42. One skilled in the art willappreciate from FIG. 2 that this design allows the mounting of two cardswithout substantially increasing the volume or space used in asingle-card design.

[0025] Although not illustrated, it is also contemplated within thescope of the present invention to mount a third and additional cardsabove the first and second cards 40, 42. That is, for a third card (notshown), the additional riser connector would be farther away from theedge of the motherboard and taller than for the riser connector usedwith the second card. Thus, the riser for the third card would bepositioned elevationally above that for the second card and the thirdcard, when connected, would be positioned above the second card.

[0026] Addressing again the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2, thefirst and second cards 40, 42 may be the same type of cards, whichprovides advantageous redundancy to the system. As one skilled in theart will appreciate, if one card malfunctions or fails, the system maystill continue to operate with the “good” card. Furthermore, it may bepossible that a technician may be able to “hot swap” the defective cardwithout either shutting down or crashing the system. As a specificexample, the first and second cards 40, 42 may both be peripheralcomponent interconnect (“PCI”) cards. Alternatively, the first andsecond cards 40, 42 may be different types of cards, which increases thefunctionality and capability of the motherboard and, accordingly, of thesystem.

[0027] Now referring specifically to FIG. 2, the illustrated dual-cardreceiver 10 is shown contained within an Electronic Industry Association(“EIA”) 1U chassis that is designed for installation in a in a systemrack (not shown). The 1U chassis holds a single row of devices and hasrack mounts (not shown) that are accessible so that the chassis C caneasily be secured/unsecured from the rack. More specifically, inaddition to the motherboard 30, the 1U chassis typically holds one ormore power supply units (“PSUs”) and a power distribution module(“PDM”), forming a single fully redundant central power supply section(“CPSS”). Multiple PSUs are advantageous because, having a modulardesign, they can be hot-swappable, in which one can be replaced whilethe other operates in light of their redundant configuration. The 1Uchassis may also include ten drives in addition to the motherboard 30and CPSS.

[0028] As one skilled in the art appreciates, however, there are spatialconstraints within a chassis C, including its height limitation.Accordingly, the dual-card receiver 10 of the exemplary embodiment shownin FIG. 2 is designed so that the vertical separation between the lowersurface 34 of the motherboard 30 and the top of the second card 42 isless than 1.75 inches, the height of a 1U chassis.

[0029] As one skilled in the art will appreciate, it is preferred thatthe cards be securely positioned so that shock or vibrations do notresult in any of the cards 40, 42 becoming lose and dislodged from theriser 26 or the straddle connector 20 or both. A common method toachieve this objective is to use a bracket fixedly attached to the card,sometimes referred to as a tailstock, and screw that traverses throughthe tailstock and into the chassis C. Such designs are disclosed by thecomponent having reference numeral “4” in U.S. Pat. No. 6,320,760 andcomponent “110” in U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,230, both of which areincorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

[0030] Using small screws or similar fasteners to secure each of thetailstocks of the two cards may be problematic in a “hot-swap” operationbecause too much time is required to remove/replace such a fastener.Moreover, there is a danger that the loosened screw could fall ontopowered components and potentially cause an electrical disaster. As oneskilled in the art appreciates, these small screws are difficult tomaneuver in the tight space even when the system is shutdown andde-energized.

[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the present invention alsocomprises a retaining device 50 or system that secures either one or allof the cards in position. The exemplary embodiment is illustrated anddisclosed as being used to secure two separate cards 40, 42, whichfollows the disclosure above of the dual-card receiving device 10. Tothat end, the retaining device 50 of the present invention comprises abracket 60 and a fastener 70.

[0032] The bracket 60 includes a securing section 62, an engagingsection 66, and a connecting section 64. The securing section 62, whichis shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 abutting the wall W of the chassis C or therack case, defines an opening 63 of a size to receive a portion of thefastener 70 therethrough. As best shown in FIG. 3, a portion of thesecuring section 62 adjacent and surrounding the opening 63 issubstantially planar.

[0033] The engaging section 66, which is spaced apart from the securingsection 62, is of a dimension to complementarily engage a portion ofeach of the two cards, preferably the tailstock. Similar to the securingsection 62 and as best shown in FIG. 4, a portion of the engagingsection 66 is also substantially planar. Referring back to FIG. 3, theengaging section 66 has two opposed edges and defines a void 68therebetween so that the engaging section 66 has two spaced-apartsegments 69. As will be noted, each segment 69 is of a dimension tocomplementarily engage a portion of one respective card, such as thetailstock.

[0034] The connecting section 64 has a body portion extending betweenand interconnecting the securing and engaging sections 62, 66. Theconnecting section 64 is shown oriented at a non-perpendicular angle tothe substantially planar portions of the securing and engaging sections62, 66. Although not necessary, the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4 shows that a majority of the body portion of the connectingsection 64 is substantially planar. As will be noted, the substantiallyplanar portions of the securing and engaging sections 62, 66 areoriented at non-parallel angles relative to each other, which again isbest shown in FIG. 4. As will further be noted, both the transition fromthe securing section 62 to the connecting section 64 and the transitionfrom the engaging section 66 to the connecting section 64 are arcuate,although a sharp angled connection is also contemplated.

[0035] Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fastener 70 is a screw 72and a nut 74, which complementarily engages the screw 72. A portion ofthe fastener 70 traverses through both the opening 63 of the securingsection 62 and the wall W of the rack or chassis C. One skilled in theart will appreciate that the nut 74 is optional when the opening 63 ofthe securing section 62 includes a threaded surface to complementarilyengage the threaded surface of the screw 72. Although less preferred,other fasteners that detachably hold the bracket 60 may be used.

[0036] As the screw 72 is tightened, the substantially planar portion ofthe securing section 62 of the bracket 60 is drawn or pulled toward thewall W. As this occurs, the two spaced-apart segments 69 of the engagingsection 66 correspondingly first engage and then secure the tailstock ofthe two respective cards. The connecting section 64 in the exemplaryembodiment being at a non-perpendicular angle with the substantiallyplanar sections of the assists the technician in connecting thecomponents in the tight space. Also, the bracket 60 may pivot about thefastener 70 as it is tightened to position properly the components ifthe technical has difficulty in pre-positioning the bracket 60 andtailstock of the cards located within the chassis C.

[0037] As one skilled in the art will also appreciate, the screw 72 usedin FIGS. 3 and 4 is started or fed from a position outside of theinterior of the rack or chassis C. Accordingly, if the screw 72 isinadvertently dropped, then the chances of adversely affecting thesystem decrease significantly. It may also be easier for the technicianto maneuver the components and tighten the screw 72 since its head ispositioned outside the wall W. Having the ability to secure more thanone card at one time with a single screw 72 may additionally result intime savings to the technician when initially installing or changingcards.

[0038] Although the present invention has been described with referenceto specific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intendedthat such details should be regarded as limitations upon the scope ofthe invention except as and to the extent that they are included in theaccompanying claims. For example, one skilled in the art will appreciatethat the retaining device 50 of the present invention may be used inother contexts besides the dual-card retaining device 10 and, likewise,the dual-card retaining device 10 may be used without the disclosedretaining device 50 or in a system other than a server shown, forexample, in FIG. 2.

What is claimed is:
 1. A retaining device, comprising: a. a fastener;and b. a bracket including a securing section, an engaging section, anda connecting section, wherein the securing section defines an opening ofa size to receive a portion of the fastener therethrough, a portion ofthe securing section adjacent and surrounding the opening beingsubstantially planar, wherein the engaging section is of a dimension tocomplementarily engage a portion of an electronic circuit componentcard, a portion of the engaging section being substantially planar, andwherein the connecting section has a body portion extending between andinterconnecting the securing and engaging sections and oriented at anon-perpendicular angle to the substantially planar portions of thesecuring and engaging sections, whereby the substantially planarportions of the securing and engaging sections are oriented atnon-parallel angles relative to each other.
 2. The retaining device ofclaim 1, wherein the fastener is a screw and a nut that complementarilyengages the screw.
 3. The retaining device of claim 1, wherein thefastener is a screw having a threaded exterior and the opening of thesecuring section includes a threaded surface to complementarily engagethe threaded exterior of the screw.
 4. The retaining device of claim 1,wherein the engaging section has two opposed edges and defines a voidtherebetween so that the engaging section has two spaced-apart segments,each segment of a dimension to complementarily engage a portion of onerespective electronic circuit component card.
 5. The retaining device ofclaim 1, further comprising a wall, wherein the substantially planarportion of the securing section of the bracket abuts the wall, andwherein the a portion of the fastener traverses through both the openingof the securing section and the wall, whereby the fastener secures thebracket against the wall.
 6. The retaining device of claim 1, wherein amajority of the body portion of the connecting section is substantiallyplanar.
 7. The retaining device of claim 1, wherein both the transitionfrom the securing section to the connecting section and the transitionfrom the engaging section to the connecting section are arcuate.
 8. Theretaining device of claim 1, wherein the engaging section is of adimension to complementarily connect to a tailstock of each respectiveelectronic circuit component card.
 9. A retaining device, comprising: a.at least one electronic circuit component card; b. a fastener; and c. abracket including a securing section, an engaging section, and aconnecting section, wherein the securing section defines an opening of asize to receive a portion of the fastener therethrough, a portion of thesecuring section adjacent and surrounding the opening beingsubstantially planar, wherein the engaging section is of a dimension tocomplementarily engage a portion of each card, a portion of the engagingsection being substantially planar, and wherein the connecting sectionhas a body portion extending between and interconnecting the securingand engaging sections and oriented at a non-perpendicular angle to thesubstantially planar portions of the securing and engaging sections,whereby the substantially planar portions of the securing and engagingsections are oriented at non-parallel angles relative to each other. 10.The retaining device of claim 9, wherein there are at least two cards,wherein each card has a tailstock, and wherein the engaging section isof a dimension to complementarily connect to the respective tailstock ofeach card.
 11. The retaining device of claim 10, wherein the engagingsection has two opposed edges and defines a void therebetween so thatthe engaging section has two spaced-apart segments, each segment of adimension to complementarily engage the tailstock of one respectiveelectronic circuit component card.
 12. The retaining device of claim 9,wherein the fastener is a screw.
 13. The retaining device of claim 9,further comprising a wall, wherein the substantially planar portion ofthe securing section of the bracket abuts the wall, and wherein the aportion of the fastener traverses through both the opening of thesecuring section and the wall, whereby the fastener secures the bracketagainst the wall.
 14. The retaining device of claim 9, furthercomprising a wall, wherein the substantially planar portion of thesecuring section of the bracket abuts the wall, and wherein the aportion of the fastener traverses through both the opening of thesecuring section and the wall, whereby the fastener secures the bracketagainst the wall.
 15. A retaining device, comprising: a. a fastener; andb. a bracket including a securing section, an engaging section, and aconnecting section, wherein the securing section defines an opening of asize to receive a portion of the fastener therethrough, a portion of thesecuring section adjacent and surrounding the opening beingsubstantially planar, wherein the engaging section is of a dimension tocomplementarily engage a portion of an electronic circuit componentcard, a portion of the engaging section being substantially planar, andwherein the connecting section has a body portion extending between andinterconnecting the securing and engaging sections, whereby thesubstantially planar portions of the securing and engaging sections areoriented at non-parallel angles relative to each other.
 16. Theretaining device of claim 15, wherein a majority of the body portion ofthe connecting section is substantially planar.
 17. The retaining deviceof claim 16, wherein the connecting section is oriented at anon-perpendicular angle to the substantially planar portions of thesecuring and engaging sections.
 18. The retaining device of claim 15,wherein the fastener is a screw.
 19. The retaining device of claim 15,wherein the engaging section has two opposed edges and defines a voidtherebetween so that the engaging section has two spaced-apart segments,each segment of a dimension to complementarily engage a portion of onerespective electronic circuit component card.
 20. The retaining deviceof claim 15, further comprising a wall, wherein the substantially planarportion of the securing section of the bracket abuts the wall, andwherein the a portion of the fastener traverses through both the openingof the securing section and the wall, whereby the fastener secures thebracket against the wall.